Automobile body



May 22, 1928.A

A. CARLSON AUTOMOBILE BODY Filed OC'L. 50, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l Z5 Y* o May 22, 1,928.

A. CARLSON AUTOMOBILE Bom Filed Oct. 50, 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet -2 Patented May 22, 1928.

UNITED STATES ALEXANDER CARLSON, OF PIQUA., OHIO.

AUTOMOBILE BODY.

Application led October 30,1924. Serial No. 746,882.

rlhis invention relates to the construction of automobile bodies and particularly automobile bodies of the closed car type.

One ot the principal objects of the present invention is to provide an automobile body for closed cars in which the front pillar and door construction is such as to reduce to a minimum what may be termed the blind angle. that is, the angle in which it is impossible to see approaching objects from the drivers seat.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent'from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the forward part. of an automobile body construction emodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same;

Fig. 3 is an elevation taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 showing one edge of the door construction;

Figs. 4, 5, and 6 are sectional views taken respectively on the lines 4 4, 5-5, and 6-6 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the upper section ot the front pillar;

Figs. 8 and 9 are respectively front and side elevations of the upper section of the pillar;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section taken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 1;- and Fig. 11 is a vertical section taken on the line 11-11 of Fig. 10.

Referring to the drawings represents the Hoor of the body and 21 represents the roof portion thereof which is supported from the floor by means of a number of pillars of which one is shown at 22. The drawings illustrate the application of the present invention to the left front pillar and door construction of an automobile body, but it should be understood that the invention may be and preferably is also embodied in the right front pillar-and door construction. It is the front pillars and doors that ordinarily constitute an annoyance and a menace to the safetyof the occupants owing to theA inability of the driver to see approaching objects which are hidden from his view by the pillars and doors Suitably hinged to the pillar 22 by hinges 23 is a door 19 having top and bottom hor* zout-ally disposed frame members 24 and 25 respectively which are connected at their rearward ends by an upright door post 26 which may be of the usual heavy or large section construction.

The forward door post which is adapted to abut the pillar 22 consists of a lower door post section 27, which may be of heavy wooden construction, extending upwardly from the bottom frame member 25 to the top of the door panel where it is connected by means of a belt rail 28 with the other door post 26. The lower door post section 27 is connected with the top frame member 24 by means of an upper door post section 29 consisting of a U-shaped thin-walled channel member, formed or cast of iron or other suitable materiah the upper end of which is fianged out and rigidly secured to the top frame member 24 and the lower end of which is secured to the inner face of the lower door post section 27. The construction and arrangement of the channel door post section is best illustrated in Figs. 3, 4, 5. and 6, from which it will be seen that the bottom wall of the U-shaped channel member lies in the edge of the door frame and forms part of the surface or edge thereof which abuts the pillar. One arm of the U- shaped channel member is preferably extended as shown in Fig. 5 to afford a convenient means for securing the same to the lower door post section 27.

The rearward door post 26, the forward door post section 29, the top frame member 24. and the belt rail 28 constitute a window frame or opening which is adapted to receive a window pane slidably mounted in the door. The channel member 29 is adapted to receive one edge of the window pane (not shown) and extends well down into the lower or panel section of the door` to form a guide vfor the window pane as it 1s slld upwardly or downwardly in the door. To permit ready removal of the window pane one side of the channel member forming the window frame is made removable as lndicated at 30 in Fig. 4, the removable portion being sebured to the main portion of the channel by means' of screws or other sultable fastening devices 31.. v

From the foregoing it .is apparent that the outline or outside dimensions of the upper'uportionof the door post which abuts-t I A the pil ar 22 is no greater thanthe eXtremev dimensions of the channel member 29 as shown in Fig. 4. By attaching the to'p hinge 23 of the door to the top'frame member 24 of the door as showni'n Figs. 1 and 10 .the

.sameiisbrought out of lthe way ofthe glassD sliding in channel '29,. yet the rea-ry hinge leaf may lie'rearwardly oflhefweb ofthe channel and the said web may be close to member or so-called glass runner '32 for' movable portion ofchannel member 29` and a corresponding part" of the guide or.

cushioning -the samef and protect' g the window pane, which is usually of" lalle glass, gainst scratching, scraping. @an rattling.

emoval of the-window pane from 'the door may be effected by simply removing therechannel (not shown) which is secured to the rearward door post 26 andthen guiding the upperend' of.the'window pane inwardly and t upwardly, or to the left as `shown in Fig. 3,

Y until the window pane. is entirelyfree of litsv guiding or channel members. To permit this lateral or. inwardv movement of the window pane .with respect to the lower portion of channel member 29 the latter isflared outwardly asat 33 toprovide a'wide mouth. On the inner. side of the 'door is a lock board 34 which at one end fis secured to the rearward door-post 26j 'and' at theother endlies against and is secured tothe channel'memextension of the lo'wer pillar section,- said4 pillar sections'being rigidly s ecured together y 'to form a rigid pillar to support the roof 24.' The lower pillarsection 35 eXtendsup ber29.' 4The vpillarz22 consists of alower pillar Section 35 andan upper -p'illar section 36in of. Vthe car'and to form part of the .frame work which is adapted to receive the door wardly -to the beltrail' or line of sight dividing the lower or solid portion of the body g from the-upper or windowed portion thereof, and may be formed out of'wood or similar material and may' be of the usual large section rigid construction. The -upper pillar .section 36' which traversesthe upper or wing .55

dowed-portionof the body is made as small 'in size as possible in order to offer the least obstruction to the vision-of the driver vand maybe formed of brass or other suit'able ma-l terial';

i. ma

Referring t0 Fig. 4 a will 'ba-Seen that the v upper pillar section 36 v'is substantially Z- shapedin cross section, one' arm extending A' forwardly from: the outer edge of the pillar to provide a rabbetor recess v37 for the reception of the windshield 38. The other arm linte'rposed between the channel and the flange 39 if desired;4

39Ai ofthe pillar extends rearwardly from 'I the inner edge thereof-to form with the main bo'dy of thepillar a rabbet or recess 404 to `receive the upper door'post section or channel 429. Still-referring to'Fig. 4 it will be seen that not only is the upper pillar section 36 Small as compared with the lower pillar sectiombut the material thereof is so dis- -posed as to'givegreat rigidity and lateral strength tothe upper pillar section. Itis arranged to 'receive the channel door post 29 between the rearwardly extending arm or.

.flange 39fand the outer edge of the pillar.

A suitable sealing means orzgasketmay. be member 29 For securingthe upper pillar' section'36 'A vin place, it -is'provided with a .flanged por- 4tion constituting-adownward continuation of the transverse web or body ofthe Z section,1said extension having laterally extend- .ing anges 41nand 42 which are 'adapted to be set into the' lower pillar section 35, Athe rear surface of the flanges lying flush with the rear surface'of the lower pillar section 35, such flanges being provided with'suitable holes to 'receive fastening screws; Projectingforwardly froinsaid flanges and 1n eX- tension of theforwardly extending arm or flange ofthe upper pillar section is a tongue 43 which is also set into a recess in the lower pillar' section, said tongue being extended downwardlybelow the flanges 4l and42 to a position behind one'of the door hinges 23. -i

This construction is best illustrated in Figs.

ico

6to9'fromv which it will be seen that the hinge -23 'overlies `the tongue 43 which is embedded in the lower. pillar section 35,- and' since the-hinge is. rigidly secured to the pillar lthe tongue`43is held immovable in the-'lower' To prevent the tongue 43 pillar section. from vwork-ing loose -in the lower pillar seetion'and to' vfurther secure' the upper pillar vsection against movementI with respect to the lower pillar section the tongue .4 3 is' preferably fastened directly todoorhinge 23 by.A

the screw means 45. As seenfrom 7, the tongue 43is smaller than the flange portion 36 of which it forms a continuation and' 'thelatt-er therefore seats on-the frame niember 22 above the point-of attachment thereto vof the web portion 41, 42' and'receives an underridi'ng supporttherefrom, This portion of the pillar 3'6 is preferably curved or l tapered outwardly at 46 toconnect Withthe outer edge of the lower pillarl section which lies inthe outer surface of the lower or solid part lof the automobile body-and 'is reinforced and tied to 'the-web at 4l, 42 by the rib 43.

The upper pillar section 36 is provided at its vupper, lend with horizontally disposed arms by which it may be secured in position .one of which arms 47 extends laterallytoward the middle of theicar and the otherof' which 48 extends rearwardly from the pillar. As best shown in Figs. l() and 11 these horizontally extending arms are set into the respective portions of the automobile body preferably with the upper surfaces of the arms flush with the frame work of the body, so as to present a smooth top upon which the roof portion 2l may be set and secured in place.

F rom the foregoing it will be apparent that the present invention provides a strong, simple and rigid front pillar and door post construction which has the advantage of offering very little obstruction to the vision of the driver, that is to say, it rovides a construction having a small blind angle. The channel member 29 is of very small yet rigid construction and functions both as a door post and as'a channel for the window pane. The upper' pillar section is also of extremely small but rigid and substantial construction, and because of its Z-shape it provides rabbets for conipactly receiving the windshield frame and the door post channel, the blind angle formed by the said assembled parts being but slightly greater than the blind anglecaused by the pillar alone. Referring to Fig. 4 the blind angle of a device constructed in accordance with the present invention is indicated by the letter A, this representing a large reduction from lthe blind angle B of known constructions in which the heavy pillar section 35 is extended to the roof of the car and in which theV door post 27 is of uniformly heavy construction from the bottom to the top of the door. It is to be noted that an important feature of the present invention, contributing to the reduction of the blind angle, is the elimination of all that part of the door post which is commonly found between the channel 29 and the pillar 22, so that the channel comes directly into contact with the pillar. The door post at this point has its exterior dimensions reduced to those of the channel member. and it is to be noted that the. angular width of the pillar, as viewed in Fig. t, has been reduced to such an extent that it is not more than twiz theeffective angular Width of the door post, which as already pointed out, has itself been reduced to an extraordinary degree.

lVhile the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein Without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door construction for automobile bodies, upright door posts spaced apart to provide a window opening therebetween, horizontal frame members connecting the door posts, and a window pane mounted to slide vertically in said door to close the window opening, one of said door posts consisting of a metallic channel member of extreme thinness in the plane of the Window pane fitting closely about one edge of the 'window pane and adapted to guiden the slidposed frame members, a door post connect` ing said top and bottom members, said door post having a lower post member secured lto said bottom member, an upper post member secured to said top frame member and to the inner surface of the lower post member, a belt rail secured to the upper portion of the lower post member and extending lat erally therefrom, a lock board secured to the inner surface of the upper post member and. extending laterally therefrom in spaced relationshi p with the belt rail, and a window pane slidably mounted between the belt rail and lock board` said upper post member consisting of a thin-walled rigid -channel the groove of which receives one edge of the window pane to guide the sliding movement thereof.

3. In an automobile body, a floor, a-roof, a pillar for supporting the roof from the floor, said pillar having a lower section and an upper section, said upper section having an elongated narrow metallic body portion, a laterally spreading flanged portion at the lower end thereof for securing to said lower section, and a rib formed on the flanged portion in prolongation of said body portion, said rib extending below said flanged portion and adapted to lie underneath a hinge set into said lower'pillar section.

4. In an automobile body, a floor, a roof, a pillar for supporting the roof from the floor, said pillar having a lower section and an upper section, said upper section having an elongated narrow metallic body portion, means at the lower end of said body portion for securing the same to said lower section, said means including a tongue projecting downwardly from said body portion and adapted tov lie underneath a door hinge set into said lower pillar section.

5. In an automobile body, a floor, a roof, a pillar for supporting the roof from the floor, said pillar having a lower section and an upper section, said upper section having an elongated narrow metallic body portion, means at the lower end of said body portion for securing the same to said lower section, said means including a tongue projecting downwardly from said body portion and adapted'to lie underneath a door hinge set. into said lower pillar section and means for securing said tongue to said hinge.

'6.'An automobile body door having a. window` pane in the upper part thereof,l

comprising, top and bottom horizontally disposed frame members,'a'door post connectlng sald top and bottom members, Sald door :post having a lower 'post -member -secured t o said bottom member and an upper post member secured to'said top frame' member and l to the lower post member, a belt rail extend.-

'- rigidly held. thereby in spaced relationship ingllaterally from the upper portioncof the l lower post member, alock board .secured to the inner part of the upper post member and with the belt rail,4 and' a window pane Aslidably mounted between the belt rail. andthe lock board, said up )er post member comv prising a 'thin-wal ed rigid channel the a pilla-r for supporting'the roof from the floor, said pillar .having a lower 'section' and an upper section, said upper section having an yelongated narrow metallicbody portion and'me'ans -at the lower end thereof forl se'- curlng to said -lower portion, .sald' Ameans comprising 4a rib 1n prolongation of said bodyportion,` said rib beingadapted-to lie` underneath a hinge set into said. lower pillar section.

. .8. In a door construction Vfor Vautomobile bodies, upright door" posts spaced apart to .provider a Window opening therebetween, 'P

horizontal frame members connecting the v door posts, and a. window-pane mounted to slide vertically in said door to close the window opcning,'one of sa'd'door posts consistf thinness in theplaneof the window .pane fit- A ting closely about one edge of the window ing of a'. metallic channel member ofextreme pane and adapted to guide the slidingmovement thereof and one side of the channel member being vremovable to permit the rel' moval of the Window pane laterally, means for normally holding said -removable channelmemberin position and readily accessible for removalwhen the door is in open binationv with the frame work of the lower- 9;'In a yclosed automobile -.body 'in comsection includinga frame member adjacent P the -cowl forming part of a doorl jamb, a

metallic top. supporting post"rising there- .from comprising aA transverse web extending i' belo'wthe belt lineand secured to said member, a' part. projecting forwardly therefrom and overlyingsaid'framemember to receive an underriding'support therefrom and aforwardly extending reinforcing flange merging-into said part and deiining with said web a 'rabbet tol 'receivethe Windshield.

11( In a closed'automobilevr body in' com- A- bination with the frame work of the lowerv section including a frame member adjacent the cowlforming. part of a door jamb, a metallic top supporting post rising therefrom' comprising a transverse web-extending belowthe belt line and secred to said meman underriding support therefrom and aforportion 'of said web.

right front corner post, a door having cross 11. In a closed automobile body an upber, va vpart projecting forwardly therefrom `.and overlying said ,frame member to receive4 frame members and a hinge pillar adjacent f saidrpost, the upper portion of the door 'adjacent :said rpost forming a window'fra'me receiving asliding glass'panel, the portion of the pillar opposing said post comprising a body of extreme thinness in the 'plane of the Window and providing a' gu'ideway to receivethe glass, andl hinges hanging the door comprising hinges below the' belt and a detachable hinge at the upper partofthe door aligned with the upper cross -frame may be organized inclosely spaced relation to saidpost to provide an assembly of small depth.-Y

of extending from sill to belt to providea orti'on of a hinge pillar,said pillar also mcludingla'metallic top-supporting Vpost lapmember thereof whereby the. same is disvposed beyond said guideway and the latter mi 1li. A-closed vehicle having 10mi body Y .frame including a component element thereping on said. element v andsecured thereto,

and a .door hung on. saidpillarI byv means 4including .a hinge leaf overlying a part of said post to coniine it against said element and secured to said frame.

13. A closed .vehicle having a lower-body frame including la component -element thereof extending from sill 'to-belt 'to provide a portion of a hinge pillar, said pillar also.

including a metallic top-supporting post lapping onsaid element and secured thereto, and a' door hung on said pillar by means said post andy fastened thereto', said caf beingsecured --and. firmly anchored in saidframeindependently of its attachment .to the' ost.

ponent element thereof extending @trom sill to belt to provide a portion of a hinge'pillar, said pillar also including ametallic'top-supl .12o 14.` A closed vehicle or' the .composite type having a lower body frame including a 'comporting posthavinga. lower portion'fitted against and secured vto saidl element, and

vhaving' also a 'part adjacentf said portion relatively offset therefrom and mortised into said'element to provide an `interlocking joint wardly lextending reinforcing flange merging into said part 'and defining with said' web a rabbet to receive"thewindshie'ld and a vrib tying-together said part and the main 11.5 including a hinge leaf overlying a art of therewith, and a door hung from said pillar by means including a hinge leaf secured to said offset ortion and receivedv thereby substantially sh with said lower portion of said post. I

15. A closed vehicle of the composite type having a lower body frame including a component element thereof extending from sill to belt to provide a portion of a hinge pillar, said pillar also includinga metallic top-supporting post having a ower portion itted against and secured to said element, and having also a part adjacent said portion relatively offset therefrom and a door hung from said pillar by means including a hinge leaf received against said part and secured to said post to cooperate with a wall 0f the offset to maintain said post and leaf in fixed angular relation, said leaf being anchored in the frame of the body independently of said post.

16. A closed vehicle having a body frame including a hinge pillar for a door which also provides a support for the roof and a door hung at said pillar by means including a hinge having a leaf interlockingly secured to an element of said frame to maintain the angular relation of said element and leaf and additionally anchored to another element of the frame to serve as a fish plate for the framework.

In testimony whereof I hereto aliix my' signature. ALEXANDER CARLSON. 

